By Frances Pio
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Pinangalanan ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos si Dr. Si Samuel Zacate, isang kilalang public health advocate at kanyang personal physician, bilang bagong pinuno ng Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Inihayag ni Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles ang pagtatalaga kay Zacate noong Miyerkules, Agosto 3.
“Dr. Samuel Zacate is a known public health advocate with years of expertise in medicine and medical consultancy in other government units and offices, including the Public Attorney’s Office, Presidential Security Group Hospital (2009-2022), and others,” sinabi ni Angeles.
Si Zacate ay isa ring diplomate ng Philippine Society for Venereology at isang fellow ng International College of Surgeons.
Tinanong kung ang tungkulin ni Zacate bilang lead physician ng Pangulo ay isang dahilan sa kanyang pagkakatalaga, sinabi ni Angeles na “hindi kami sigurado” dahil si Zacate ay “talagang kwalipikado” para sa posisyon.
“If you will look at his qualifications, he is eminently qualified,” sinabi ni Angeles.
“As you know, to be the FDA head, you have to at least be a doctor or a pharmacist. He is qualified plus he has several distinctions, so we’re not sure if his being a personal physician actually factored into this, considering he ticks all the boxes, meaning lahat ng (all) requirement bilang FDA chief, he fulfills,” sinabi ni Angeles bilang pagbibigay diin.